Radiofrequency Ablation

What is radiofrequency ablation?   

​Dr. Madan and his team at Center for Varicose Veins use radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as a treatment for venous problems and varicose veins.

Ablation is a safe way of using a heat source to create precision damage to tissues in your body. With varicose veins, ablation causes the collagen in the walls of your veins to contract, collapse, and close up.

Blood can't travel along the treated vein, which breaks down over time and disappears. RFA causes the treated veins to contract and collapse using heat generated by radiofrequency energy.

To ensure accuracy and safety in every radiofrequency ablation procedure, Dr. Madan uses ultrasound guidance, which provides him with a live view of your veins. 

Why would I need radiofrequency ablation?

​You might be a good candidate for radiofrequency ablation if you have venous insufficiency that's causing varicose veins.

Venous insufficiency is a condition where your blood vessels don't work properly. It develops when valves that control the direction of blood flow in your veins weaken.

Having faulty valves means that rather than blood traveling back to your heart, some of it seeps back the wrong way. The blood then forms pools that appear as varicose veins — unsightly, lumpy, bulging veins that can be blue, red, or purple.

As well as being unsightly, varicose veins can cause symptoms such as:

• Itching
• Fatigue
• Burning
• Leg pain
• Tingling
• Heaviness
• Soreness
• Throbbing
• Cramping
• Night cramps
• Restless legs
• Swollen legs
• Discoloration of the skin around the veins

Venous insufficiency and varicose veins also increase your chances of developing more serious conditions, such as blood clots and venous leg ulcers.

Radiofrequency ablation is one of a number of cutting-edge treatment options at Center for Varicose Veins. The team uses radiofrequency ablation for superior results.

What does radiofrequency ablation involve?

When you attend Center for Varicose Veins to undergo radiofrequency ablation, Dr. Madan gives you a local anesthetic or mild sedative, so you're comfortable and relaxed. 

He inserts a slim tube called a catheter into your varicose vein through a small puncture, using ultrasound imaging for precision guidance. Dr. Madan then uses the system to deliver radiofrequency energy at a precise, consistent heat until your vein collapses.

Radiofrequency ablation is an in-office procedure at the Center for Varicose Veins. You require minimal downtime afterward, and Dr. Madan gives you compression stockings to wear for the next week to ensure your treatment delivers optimal results.

To check for full closure of your problem veins, you might need to undergo a duplex ultrasound scan at your follow-up appointment.

Call Center for Varicose Veins today to find out more about radiofrequency ablation or book an appointment online.